The weather has been glorious in Budleigh over the last few days and the diary is now full for May. The beach and the beach huts have recovered from the February storms and it's been lovely to see people out enjoying the early summer sunshine. We have limited availability for June so book soon and experience the fabulous sea views from your bedroom, the breakfast conservatory and garden.

For a small town, Budleigh Salterton has been surprisingly well represented in popular culture. While some of the mentions of Budleigh Salterton in popular culture have been a bit ironic, the town has a special place for many authors and humourists looking to tap into its reputation for peace and quiet. What, then, are some of the major popular cultural appearances of Budleigh over the years? Harry PotterAuthor J.K. Rowling was an undergraduate student at nearby Exeter University, and based many of the Harry Potter series’ locations on places in the area. Budleigh Salterton is (loosely) represented by the town Budleigh Babberton, which features in the book TheHalf Blood-Prince. However, the town’s inland spot might put it closer to East Budleigh than the Budleigh beachfront. Giles Wemmbley-HoggBudleigh is the hometown of Giles Wemmbley-Hogg, a clueless young man who travels around the world in Marcus Brigstocke’s radio series Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off. Other comedy mentions of Budleigh can be found in Blackadder the Third and Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Blithe SpiritOne of the more famous mentions of Budleigh comes in Noel Coward’s play and film Blithe Spirit. This 1940s farce features an author who’s haunted by the ghost of his first wife. When she berates him for having spent their honeymoon in Budleigh, the author replies with the fitting question ‘what’s the matter with Budleigh Salterton?’ Find some more examples of Budleigh in popular culture here.